James Carey (Fenian)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
,_by_unknown_engraver,_pubd_1883.jpg)
James Carey (1845–1883) was a Fenian, most notable for his involvement in the Phoenix Park Murders. He has been called "the most militant-minded republican you could possibly meet" by historian Dr Shane Kenna.[1]
Carey was the son of Francis Carey, a bricklayer, who came from Celbridge to Dublin, where his son was born in James's Street in 1845.[2] James also became a bricklayer, and for 18 years continued in the employment of Michael Meade, builder, of Dublin; he then started business on his own account as a builder in that city, at Denzille Street. In that venture, he was successful; he became the leading spokesman of his trade, and obtained several large building contracts.
During all this period Carey was engaged in an Irish nationalist conspiracy, but to outward appearance, he was one of the rising men of Dublin. He was involved in religious and other societies and at one time was spoken of as a possible lord mayor. In 1882 he was elected a town councillor.
In about 1861 he joined the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB), and soon afterwards became its treasurer. He broke with the IRB in 1881, forming a new group which assumed the title of the Invincibles, and established their headquarters in Dublin. Carey took an oath as one of the leaders. The object of the Invincibles was to remove all "tyrants" from the country, and several attempts, but without success, were made to assassinate The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland Francis Cowper, 7th Earl Cowper and then Chief Secretary for Ireland W. E. Forster.
